12 Jun 2025

Preparations are almost complete for the arrival of Spanish coaches in Lobatse next week to scout for promising football talent from the African countries with the potential to break into the Spanish league

Speaking in an interview yesterday, executive director of Africa Must Arise Initiative (AMAI) Tumisang Keitseng said they were tying loose ends of the event, which was initially slated for this week but was moved to 23-25 June, 2025 due to unforeseen circumstances. She said three Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) soccer coaches, Spanish experienced professional UEFA licensed coaches would conduct elite scouting for football talent in Botswana in a three-day comprehensive football talent search camp to be held in Lobatse. 

The project is a partnership between AMAI, Captive Eye Organisation (CEO), Kamal Jacobs Foundation, and Fish Keitseng Trust (FKT), who have collaborated with Op Mindmills llc from the city of Madrid in Spain to fight social ills such as substance abuse, gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS in communities by organising a football event as part of the broader initiative to identify and develop emerging young footballers in Botswana. 

The talent search would round 120 participants from under privileged backgrounds from various parts of the country where the Spanish coaches would personally evaluate the athletes of ages 15 to 23 to pick five most promising players as finalists who would participate at the main Showcase Madrid 2025 event at Spain from 25-30 July, 2025. The Spanish coaches will also conduct a workshop for local football coaches as part of imparting skills and growing football talent. 

Amongst the coaches anticipated to conduct the talent search in Lobatse is UEFA A License coach Marçal Trulls Sevillano. The showcase programme has produced the likes of successful international football player, Ibrahim Alani who is a Nigerian footballer playing as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Valladolid Promesas signed by the club in 2023. ENDS